Frustration & Dynamism

I was born, one day I will die...No, not that track by Soft Cell/Marc Almond (although, being a middle-aged man, it’s arguably fitting) I am referring to our old friend, supply problems. I’ve also been struggling to remove the Shutter Precision SL9’s centre lock rotor.

  

A sudden flash of inspiration led me to buying a small portable vice and some rubber “engineer’s” strips allowing me to clamp the hub in situ, without risking any damage.  

I’m incredibly fond of the Shutter Precision hubs but the need to strip the hub and send it away every few years isn’t something I’ve needed to do with Shimano units- even the Nexus unit (now 22 years old) is still turning away nicely.  

The Ultegra is in similarly rude health and has done a much bigger mileage than the once hardworking Nexus. This had led me to me pondering the acquisition of another Alfine, or ideally, something that is more readily serviced in the field. 

 

Kasai offer some “field repairable” models, which as their name suggests are more readily serviced and repaired-without going through the palaver of stripping the wheel, packaging up the hub and building everything again.  

This might be perfectly valid on a bike in hard service running rim brakes. Since the rim’s sidewalls can wear through, demanding a rebuild by default. Ideally, I’ll get hold of a Kasai, or failing that, another Alfine (since the latter is reliable and crucially, partially user serviceable) and hold onto the SL9 as a spare. Watch this space...    

Back to the SL9...I'd been toying with the idea of a portable vise, for some time. Bench mounted ones had also fired my imagination, but portable models are arguably a better fit for me.  

Enter this auction site special, which arrived over the holiday weekend. Given the budget price, I was surprised by how relatively sturdy it felt. I popped some of the dead butyl from the previous week into the jaws and gently locked the Shutter Precision Hub body in situ.  

A quick blast of penetrant spray to get things underway before I introduced my long-serving Cyclo cassette remover tool. With a brief primal grunt, and modest effort, the lockring released, revealing a light but serviceable coating of grease clinging to the threads.  

If only I’d whipped the rotor off before stripping the wheel... However, main thing the hub’s now with the UK importers and will be winging its way to Taiwan for overhaul. Another little job off my doing list. Next came my front dental crown, which fell into the sink with an audible “plink” while I was busy with the electric toothbrush.  

Conversation with my dentists suggests I couldn’t get an appointment for a month, but my best bet would be to ring them on the mornings when I’m free to see if they could slot me in that day. Main thing is the remnants of tooth are still firmly within the gum, which is something. Receptionists suggested the crown could simply be re-bonded but much as I suspected, the tooth, not the crown itself failed. I've discussed cosmetic and structural options with my dentist and paid for treatment to shore up a booking, while this was still available.  

As autumn slowly advances, I’ve reached my conclusions regarding the Green Oil Dry Chain Wax Green Oil Dry Chain Wax | cycling-not-racing (sevendaycyclist.com) which I’m quite fond of and will run, until the roads get consistently wetter. I’ll stick with something dry for Ursula and for the time-being, the Green Oil Wet GREEN OIL WET CHAIN LUBE (sevendaycyclist.com) on the fixed. 

  

I am also toying with a saddle swap- The Spa Cycles Aire ported over to Ursula and the Selle San Marco Concor Supercorsa over to the fixed. Both are a tan brown so complement their existing colour schemes and the former is also right royally moulded to my butt after many thousands of miles. The Concor Supercorsa is a late 70s classic, with lines from that era.  

Not to everyone’s tastes but at 265x140mm, fits my proportions very nicely. The main prompt for this switch? Well, I’ve concluded, despite Ursula’s more upright positioning that I am still served by narrower saddles-140-143mm seems optimal (indeed, regardless of machine). The Aire is,148mm wide but if it's comfy on the fixed, I’m confident this narrative will continue.

 

Displacing The Load

Pleased to report that my DIY shim/protector made from old inner tube has had the desired results (a) Eliminating sway with the Aero Post Rack, while placing less strain on the SQR clip, since less torque (and therefore, stress) is required to keep everything snug and solid.  

Using the larger, full-size SQR clip probably helps, on account of its larger surface area. I’ve slipped a spare into the side pocket, just in case. In the absence of the mighty Carradice Carradry SQR bag https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/carradice-carradry, I’ve gone for a bike-packing configuration, courtesy of this Merida Travel Frame Bag.  

It’s the large version and arguably, the medium would be a better fit, since it obscures the seat tube bottle cage (although switching to side entry models largely corrects this). The hardy, lightweight TPU material seems genuinely waterproof and the internal layout also suits me.  

The Velcro straps feel a little low rent, although bolstered by the seat and downtube counterparts draw tight enough to prevent sway. I’ve been impressed by the design ‘s rigidity (although would appreciate thicker straps) I’ve not needed to effect a knees-out pedaling style, so no issues maintaining an efficient cadence.  

Experience with webbed strapping (the sort common to top tube bags and years ago, high power rechargeable battery lighting) suggests minute amounts of sway can leave tan-lines in lacquered, or painted surfaces. This is easily addressed by dressing these areas in helicopter/similar clear protective tapes, first. Zefal Skin Armor Roll is a good, affordable workshop staple https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/zefal-skin-armor-roll  

I continue to appreciate the qualities and refinements offered by higher-end suspension seat posts and am endeared to the Redshift Shock stop https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/redshift-shockstop-suspension-seatp and Cane Creek Thudbuster  STG4.  

Though not essential, their supple zing is very welcome on longer rides, especially given the condition of local roads. Now lockdown has been eased, road patching (as distinct from resurfacing) is becoming quite prevalent. I have toyed with the idea of acquiring a G3 for the Univega, while they’re still available and not at collectors' prices. https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/cane-creek-thudbuster-suspensuin-se 

Nonetheless, the present uncertainties mean it would need to be at the right price to justify the outlay, since the tubby tourer’s big tyres do a pretty good job of ironing out the bumps and the existing Selcof holds the Cycles Berthoud saddle securely. Therefore, want over need. 

I’ve also been pleasantly surprised by the Juice Lubes Chain Juice Wax this time round. I’ve used it some years back and indeed, more recently, during a wetter spell, which on some levels, was a little unfair. Afterall, these are designed for dry/dusty conditions. This time round, I’ve applied ours in two coats, leaving ten minutes curing between them, then observing an 8hour curing period before riding.  

Thus far, I’ve managed 250 predominantly dry weather miles and its running very clean. 

This hasn’t rivaled dry formulas, such as Weldtite TF2 Ultra Dry Wax https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/tf2 but then it seems unaffected by higher temperatures (unlike Zefal Pro Dry Wax https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/zefal-extra-dry-chain-wax) or Muc-Off Dry Lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/muc-off-dry-chain-lube. Cleanliness is good for chain health and to some extent, extends maintenance intervals (save perhaps for reapplication, depending on the lube’s staying prowess).  

The KMC in question has gone past the 1,000mile marker and if the weather remains predominantly dry, I’m confident I’ll get at least 1,500 before its ready to collect its pension. 

When it comes to chains and cassettes, I get a quiet satisfaction from just in time replacement of chains and cassettes i.e. getting my money’s worth but replacing on time, before they can consume more expensive parts. Since the Pro Gold Pro Link Chain Lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/pro-gold-pro-link-chain-lube  dressing my fixed’s chain was beginning to look a little filmy, I added some Zefal Pro Dry Lube https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/zefal-pro-dry-lube to see whether the two would react negatively. I’m gambling on the solvent content being strong enough to strip the other, thus rendering this academic but we’ll see.   

With the roads being more congested now, I’ve also reinstated the Orp Smart horns https://www.sevendaycyclist.com/orp-smart-horn to my fixed and the Univega. Primarily so I can gently warn pedestrians of my approach along the lanes and sometimes, dissuade a small minority from crossing high streets without looking. 

Talking of just in time, there seems to be some surprise that a no-deal Brexit will result in Sunderland’s Nissan factory closing its doors. Car factories run on the just in time principle, relying on goods arriving at a precise point. Otherwise, productivity and profits plummet.  

61.3% of Sunderland voted to leave the EU, Nissan is owned by Renault, who (in the event of no-deal) will relocate elsewhere in Europe where trade is seamless. The collapse of a major employer has major ripples for any community. Suppliers, café's and other businesses, which depend upon them will also disappear. Short-sighted and desperately sad, given the demise of manufacturing and its wider consequences, has been so widely documented.